ISLAMABAD: The government has computerised the process of issuing arms licences to make it transparent and authentic, officials said.

The new system is based on a customised software which has been developed by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to avoid forgery and duplication of arms licences, an official of the interior ministry told Dawn on Thursday.

There has not been a single case of illegal licence since the computerised system has been introduced, said the official, requesting anonymity.

The new system is facilitating the general public because it takes an applicant only 15 days to get an arms licence issued. The system will enable the government to have computerised record of arms licences.

The initiative will also prevent forgery and duplication of other documents of sensitive nature.

Under the new system, computerised arms licences are processed after receiving approval from the interior ministry. Bio-data of the applicant is received and matched with his computerised national identity card and, if found valid after verification, the demand note is issued to him.

The demand note is enlisted with the deputy commissioner or district coordination officer or political agent. The demand note is then submitted to the Nadra office which enters the data in its system and a computerised arm license is issued within 15 days.